Regional films are better, says Barua

Regional films are richer in content than Bollywood films, says Jahnu Barua.

He is north-east India's brightest name in the world of cinema and has been making films for more than two decades winning more than ten national and 25 international awards.

HT Image

Yet, a film awards organiser recently bracketed Assamese film maker Jahnu Barua in the debutant director's category and a news channel introduced him as a film maker from Korea!

"Regional cinema needs much more exposure and encouragement. Then such misinformation would not spread, " he says.

"I have always taken pride in making regional films. When it comes to content, they are far richer than Bollywood movies. If Indians want to watch better films, they should watch regional films," he says.

"Moreover I did not make Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara in Hindi to gain popularity. I thought the the subject had a universal appeal and therefore it should be watched by a wider audience, " says Barua who had also made Apeksha in Hindi earlier with Suhasini Mule, of Mrinal Sen directed BhuvanShome fame in the lead.

Barua believes films should not be made only for entertainment, rather they should be used as a tool for educating and awakening the masses about social issues confronting the society.

Jahnu Barua feels that Indians should watch regional films to watch better films. "I have always taken pride in making regional films. When it comes to content, they are far richer than Bollywood movies," says the director.

"If Amitabh Bachchan changes his hairstyle, the nation follows him. Such is the power and influence of cinema, " he says.

"If Indian films are properly guided, they can play a potent role in solving many social problems. In fact, many films have already played such roles, " he says.

"The Hindi title for the film has not been decided. I am busy with post production work of the film. It should be released by March-April this year," he says.

About Maine Gandhi Ko ... he says "My state of Assam and the north east as a whole is facing a lot of problems. I thought the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi would be very relevant in delivering a message to the masses. So, I tried to weave a story around the Mahatma."

"I did not expect the film to do well. I just wanted to make a good film which would be socially relevant. But now I feel encouraged that good cinema has takers in this country," he says.

Asked whether life for him has changed after Maine Gandhi Ko..., he says, "Yes, it has. I had to struggle to find a distributor for the film. Now distributors and producers are approaching me to fund my projects."

The FTII graduate considers his friendship with veteran actor Anupam Kher as one of his major gains from his maiden Hindi film.

"I met Anupam about two and a half years ago. He has shown tremendous faith in me by not only working in my film but also producing it. I look forward to working with him again, " he says.

"We have a small market and therefore at times we fail to make the kind of films we want to. But there is wealth of talent in Assamese cinema, " he says.

In fact, even other communities in the north east are making very good films. Manipuri films are of excellent quality. Has anybody heard the name of Manipuri director A Sharma? He is an internationally acclaimed figure. Bodos, Karbis and some other tribal communities have also made films on the CD format, " he adds.

Barua, the veteran of films such as Aparoopa, Banani and Halodhiya Choraye Baodhan Khaye is determined to continue making films with a social message. And he feels that the recent trend of multiplexes would also ensure financial success for his kind of movies.

"Through multiplexes, serious cinema can reach their niche audience. Their growth is a very positive development, " he says.